Summer brings more than sunscreen questions. For community pharmacies, warmer months can shift the conversations happening at the counter, from sun exposure and skin irritation to eye symptoms, medication storage, respiratory concerns, and heat-related risks.

That gives pharmacy teams a useful seasonal opening. The goal is not to turn every interaction into a long consultation. It is to use the season as a practical reminder point: reinforce trusted public health guidance, encourage patients to follow prescriber directions, and help them know when to ask a pharmacist or clinician for more support.

Make sun protection advice more specific

Most patients know sun protection matters. The more useful pharmacy conversation is about whether they are using it consistently.

CDC recommends several ways to reduce UV exposure, including staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen when outside. CDC also notes that protection is recommended when the UV Index is 3 or higher. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapplication about every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

A simple pharmacy prompt can help:

“Are you thinking about sun protection for everyday exposure too, or mostly for longer outdoor days?”*

That question can open the door to a practical conversation without making it feel like a lecture. It also reinforces that sun exposure can add up through errands, driving, gardening, youth sports, outdoor work, and travel.

Use summer as a reminder to review labels and directions

Summer is a good time to remind patients to read medication labels, follow prescriber directions, and ask the pharmacist if they have questions about sun exposure, irritation, or product use.

This is especially relevant when patients are picking up dermatology prescriptions or products tied to skin concerns. Items in this month’s Deal Drop, such as Tretinoin 0.05% Cream, Tazarotene 0.05% Cream, Fluorouracil 5% Cream, Hydrocortisone 2.5% Cream, Ammonium Lactate 12% Cream, Clotrimazole 1% Solution, and Ciclopirox 1% Shampoo, can all sit within broader seasonal conversations about skin, sun, and product directions.

To keep the interaction practical and appropriate, pharmacy teams can use a neutral prompt:

“Do you have any questions for the pharmacist about how to use this or what your prescriber told you to expect?”*

That keeps the guidance routed through the pharmacist, prescriber directions, and product labeling instead of turning the conversation into unsupported medication advice.

Keep eye protection in the summer conversation

UV protection is not just about skin. Bright sun, allergens, swimming, wind, and outdoor activity can all bring eye-related questions into the pharmacy.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends choosing sunglasses labeled with 100% UV protection, UV400 protection, or protection from both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Pharmacies can also help route patients appropriately when eye symptoms come up. Items such as Bepotastine 1.5% Eye Drop and Ofloxacin 0.3% Eye Drops may appear in seasonal eye-care conversations, but any product-specific questions should be directed to the pharmacist, prescriber instructions, and approved labeling.

A useful team prompt:

“Would you like to speak with the pharmacist about your eye symptoms or how to use this medication?”*

That keeps the message helpful without overstepping.

Use heat as a medication storage checkpoint

Hot weather can affect both patients and medications. CDC guidance for clinicians recommends counseling patients about proper medication storage during high temperatures, including not leaving medications in cars or other places that can become excessively hot. CDC also notes that inhalers can malfunction or burst from extreme heat and that insulin can be degraded by heat.

For pharmacy teams, the summer counseling opportunity can be simple:

“Be sure to check the storage instructions and avoid leaving medications in hot cars or direct heat.”*

That message is broad, source-supported, and useful for patients who are traveling, using delivery services, running errands after pickup, or carrying medications in bags during hot weather.

CDC also recommends that clinicians talk with patients about signs that heat may be interacting with their medications, when to seek care, and what symptoms may be an emergency. Pharmacies can help by encouraging patients with heat-related concerns to ask the pharmacist or contact their clinician rather than changing or stopping therapy on their own.

Keep respiratory readiness in mind

Summer can also bring air quality issues, wildfire smoke, allergens, humidity, outdoor activity, and travel. For patients with asthma or other respiratory concerns, pharmacies can be an accessible place to ask practical questions about refills, storage, and readiness.

Products such as Albuterol Sul 2.5 MG/3 ML Soln and Budesonide 0.5 MG/2 ML Susp may come up in these conversations, but pharmacy teams should keep product-specific counseling tied to pharmacist guidance, prescriber directions, and approved labeling.

A safe prompt:

“Do you have enough of your prescribed respiratory medications on hand, or would you like the pharmacist to review anything with you?”*

That supports preparedness without giving therapy-specific advice.

Pharmacy takeaway

Summer and UV-related pharmacy needs are not limited to sunscreen. They can show up through dermatology prescriptions, eye care, allergy symptoms, respiratory concerns, pain relief, medication storage, and heat-related questions.

For pharmacies, the opportunity is practical: use the season as a checkpoint. Point patients to trusted public health guidance, reinforce the importance of following prescriber directions and product labeling, and route clinical questions to the pharmacist or prescriber.

As part of this month’s Soak Up the Savings: Featuring Summer & UV Deals Deal Drop, Masters is featuring online-only pricing on select products tied to seasonal skin care, eye care, respiratory support, pain relief, and related pharmacy needs, including items such as Bepotastine Eye Drops, Budesonide, Hydrocortisone, Clotrimazole, Tazarotene Cream, and more.

Pharmacies can shop the current Deal Drop online at store.mastersrx.com while pricing is active.

* Any conversation topics or prompts offered herein are meant to serve as ideas and starting points. It is ultimately the responsibility of pharmacist to determine how to best counsel their patients.